"Hunter and I were always trying to have children," she says, "but we just never did... Hunter was such a loving person that it would have been a joy to have a family with him," she says, and then adds, almost casually: "But I could still have his child if I want to."

As this bombshell resonates, Thompson opens up, clams up, opens up again. There are certain things she wants off the record - specifically the words "frozen sperm". I respect those wishes, naturally, but, having tried for several days, I genuinely can't think of any other way to put it. "He left that possibility for me but it's a long series of ethical questions for me whether I would want to have his child now."

We love Hunter, and hate to look a gift horse in the mouth. But sometimes the gift sperm in question has the addiction and crazy gene.